Cartridge & Rocket Motor Technician
Chalgrove | £28,500–£29,000 | Permanent
A globally recognised aerospace manufacturer in Chalgrove is looking for a Cartridge & Rocket Motor Technician to join its pyrotechnic manufacturing operation. You’ll be assembling, inspecting, testing, and packing cartridges and rocket motors in a precision, safety-critical environment — working with advanced radiography equipment, mass spectrometers, and proof firing chambers on live energetic components.
What you’ll be doing:
Performing radiography using DR and CT equipment to detect anomalies and verify correct assembly of cartridge and rocket assemblies
Proof firing of cartridges and rocket motors including assembly and setup of chambers and analysis of firing data
Measuring helium escapement rates using a mass spectrometer to agreed test limits
Visual inspection of cartridges and rocket motors to engineering drawings, company requirements, and specifications
Assembly of category 1 cartridges following company build plans, process work instructions, and engineering drawings
Inkjet marking, packing into licensed packaging, and labelling for customer shipment
Transportation of cartridges and rocket motors between stores, magazines, and process rooms
Contributing to risk assessments, safe systems of work, explosive safety, and 5S audits
Recording all work in progress, batch tracking, component locations, and non-conformances accurately in SAP
What you need:
Experience in an NDT or testing environment
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, route cards, and relevant documentation
Level 1 Radiographer certification (ASNT or PCN) — essential
Solid data analysis and PC skills
Good verbal communication skills
Experience using digital X-ray systems desirable
SAP experience desirable
What’s on offer:
£28,500–£29,000 base salary
Initial 6-month days period to learn the role thoroughly
Moving to 4 on 4 off (07:00–16:30) after 6 months, with a 22.6% shift allowance — bringing total package to approximately £34,930–£35,540
Early finish Fridays on day shift (08:00–12:00)
Strong benefits package
Long-term stability with over a decade of secured contracts
This is a specialist role working with live pyrotechnic components in a tightly regulated environment. If you have an NDT or radiography background and are looking for something genuinely different, this is a rare opportunity.
Data Protection Notice: By applying for this position, you consent to Recruit Engineering processing and storing your personal data, including your CV, contact details, and any other relevant information, for the purpose of providing work-finding services. This consent includes forwarding your details to our clients and storing your information on our recruitment software database. Your consent will last for two years, and you can withdraw it at any time by contacting us in writing or via email